Apparatus for and method of making paper



Jan. 28, 1936. P. J. REx 2,028,952

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING PAPER Filed Feb. 14. 1934 w I 4 MMPatented Jan. 28,, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,028,952 APPARATUSFOR AND METHOD OF MAKING PAPER 12 Claims.

tion of the paper web is effected on a traveling foraminous surface suchas for example, a Fourdrinier paper machine.

More specifically this invention relates to a combination drain andfloat box device for mounting under the forming wire of a Fourdriniertype paper machine close to the breast roll for selectively draining orfloating the stock flowed onto the wire until the proper type of webformation can occur. The invention also ln-' cludes a novel process offorming web material having improved characteristics by controlling theweb formation on the forming wire in the zone immediately after thebreast roll.

It has long been the aim of paper makers to form paper on Fourdriniertypes of paper making machines which does not have distinctcharacteristics on the wire side of the sheet from those found on thetop side of the sheet. It has also been the aim of paper makers to formthe sheet with the-fibers therein in thoroughly criss-crossed conditionso as to eliminate grain formation.

I have now found that the two-sidedness and grain'formation may bepractically eliminated from Fourdrinier made sheets by incorporating thedevice of this invention under the forming wire immediately after thebreast roll and by means of this device, delaying the web formation ofthe fibers flowed onto the wire in aqueous suspension until these fibershave attained the speed of the traveling wire. As is known,inFourdrinier type paper making machines, cellulose fibers in aqueoussuspension are flowed under a slice from a head box onto a foraminousforming wire which usually travels at high speed. The forming wire hasgreat drainage capacity and permits a rapid filtering of the waterthrough the wire while retaining the fibers thereon. The high speedtravel of the wire and its high drainage action of the traveling wirestraightens the fiber and topples it over so that it falls lengthwise ofthe wire;

I havefound that the combing action of the traveling forming wire may beovercome by maintaining the fibers in aqueous suspension on the formingwire until they have attained the speed of the wire. In accordance withmy invention the draining of the white water through the forming wire isslowed up, delayed or prevented until conditions conducive to properformation on the wire are produced. This is effected, by my device, inseveral ways which will be more fully hereinafter described. My devicealso permits the incorporation of dyestuffs or filling materials such asclays and the like into the wire side of the sheet being formed and thusmake up for loss of these materials through the wire. Filled papers andcolored papers made on Fourdrinier machines usually exhibit markeddifferences on the top and wire sides since the top side of the sheetcontains the greater portion of the filler or dyestuff. vMy devicepermits the addition of fillers and dyestuffs to the wire side of thestock on the wire and thus equalizes the two sides of the sheet.

It has generally been recognized that clay filled book papers could notcontain more than 20% of clay without exhibiting marked "two-sidedness.By adding clay to the wireside of the stock my device permits themanufacture of homogeneous book paper sheets containing considerablymore than 20% of clay.

It is therefore an object of this invention to form fibrous web materialon Fourdrinier type paper machine which is free from two-sidedness andgrain formation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for delaying theweb formation of fibers on paper machine forming wires until conditionsconducive to the best fiber formation are attained.

Another object of this invention is to delay the forming of fibers inaqueous suspension on a paper machine forming wire until the fibers haveattained the speed of. the wire.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forselectively controlling the rate of web formation on the forming wire ofa Fourdrinier type paper machine.

A further object of this invention is to incorporate fillers, dyestuflsolutions, and the like into fibrous webs as they are being formed onthe paper machine.

A further object of this invention is to selectively control thedrainage of white water through the forming wire of Fourdrinier typepaper machines.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following specification and annexed sheet ofdrawings which forms a part of this specification.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical cross sec-/ tional view with partsshown diagrammatically and in elevation of a device according to thisinvention mounted for operation in a Fourdrinier paper machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view with parts in elevation,taken substantially along the line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectionel view showing thedrain control of one of the float boxes according to this invention.

As shown on the drawing:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral ii] indicates a fragmentary portion ofthe usual type of stock head box used in Fourdrinier type paperinachines having a slice II and an aprc-n I2 for directing the stockflowing under the siice onto the forming wire I3 after it passes overthe breast roll I. The drain and float box of this invention isindicated generally by the reference numeral l5 and is located between'the breast roll I and the table rolls i6 of the Fourdrinier machine.

The float and drain box I 5 as shown in Figure 1 is subdivided into fourcompartments l1, I8, i9, and 20. It should be understood, however, thatone or any number of compartments may be used without departing from thescope of this invention. It should also be understood that thecompartments may be formed as individual boxes instead of divisions of asingle box as is shown.

Each compartment l1, l8, l9, and 29 may be equipped with a supportingroll M for guiding the wire l3 over the open top of the compartment.These guide rolls are rotatably mounted in the compartments and aresimilar to the usual tabie rolls or a Fourdrinier machine.

A laterally extending solid shelf 22 is secured to the side wall of thebox I 5 adjacent to the breast roll and extends under the head box apronM2 for supporting the wire and for preventing drainage of water throughthe wire iii.

A pipe 23 closed at both ends extends transversely across eachcompartment ii, l8, l9, and 20 in spaced relation from the bottomthereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pipes 23 are perforated alongthe bottom sides thereof as shown in Figure 2 at 24. Liquids aresupplied to said pipes 23 from main feed pipes 25 and branch pipes 26and 21. The branch pipe 2? communicates with the perforated pipes 23 ata plurality of points along. the length of said pipe to insure an equaldistribution of liquid along the full length of the pipe, As shown inFigure 2 the branch pipes are divided into T connections so that anyliquid flowing from the main pipe 25 will be equally dispensed to botharms of the T branch pipe 26. T branch pipes 27 communicate with eacharm of the T branch pipe 26 and both arms of the branch pipe 21communicate with the pipe 23 at spaced points along its length. Onlyone-half of the installation is shown in Figure 2 but it is obvious thatthis branch distrih-uting system may be multiplied as many times as isnecessary to insure uniform deiivery of iiquids along the entire lengthof the perforated pipe 23. The main pipeline 25 may be equipped with avalve 28 to regulate the flew of liquids to the perforated pipes 23 anda pressure indicator or flow meter 29.

Liquid forced through the perforations 24 in the pipes 23 flows upwardaround the baflies 3!) and 3| in each partition I1, l8, l9, and 20. Theliquid then flows around the rolls 2| and through the forming wire i3passing over the tops of the partition where it mingles with the stocksuspension.

The bottoms of the partitions I1, l8, I9 and 20 are provided with a lineof perforations 32 such as shown in Figure 3. A perforated slide valve33 is secured to the bottom oi the partitien and adapted to registerwith the holes 82 shown in Figure 3. An adjusting set screw 34, in screwthread relation with an end wall of the partition, is rotatably coupledby means of a collar to each valve 33. It is evident that thisarrangement permits a micrometer adjustment of the size of the openingat the bottom of the partition to carefully regulate the drainage efliquids from the partition. The holes 32 may be entirely closed by meansof the solid portions of the valves 33 or the slice arrangement of thevalves may control the amount of drainage to any desired degree.

A save-all tray 36 is mounted under the box 5 for receiving any liquiddrained therefrom. A directing doctor 31 scrapes against the breast rollit for flowing any liquid thereon into the save-all tray 36.

While I have shown rolls 2| mounted in each partition of the box l5 itshould be understood that these rolls may bedispensed with in someinstances or that other means for supporting the wire over the tops ofthe partitions in the box may be used. 1

The device of this invention may be operated according to any one of thefour fellowin methods.

First method Each partition of the box is supplied with either freshwater or white water by means of the distributing pipes soas to createan evenly distributed flow of water across the bottom of each partition.The partitions or chambers are filled with water, as shown in Figure 1,and the water seeps through the forming wire passing over the tops ofthe chambers, thereby preventing formation of the fibers in the stocksuspension flowed under the siice until the wire has passed over the boxi5. The maintenance of the stock in suspension as it passes over the boxpermits it to attain the speed. of the forming wire without effecting aweb formation. As pointed out above it is thus possible to free thesheet from the usual two-sidedness since the wire side of the sheet willhave the same appearance as the top side if the web prevented fromforming untii after the stock suspension has leveled out on the wire andhas attained the speed of the wire. Then when ,water is drained from thesuspension, the fibers are deposited thereon in what= ever position theyexist in suspension and form a grainless sheet.

Fluids of various compositions may actually be iiowed through thechambers and into the stock suspension to fill the bottom side of thesheet that to be formed with fillers or coloring matter.

If the stock suspension flowed under the slice it is composed ofcellulose fibers derived from different processes, a two-sided sheetusually results because of the difference in specific gravity of thevarious kinds of fibers. For example a stock suspension composed offibers derived by a grinding process and also of fibers derived from thesulphite process tends to settle out with the ground wood fibers at thebottom. since they are a The first,method of operation therefore consists in supplying liquids to all of the partitions in the box IE andactually flowing the liqu d into the stock suspension carried by thewire.

Second method The formation of the web on the forming wire may bedelayed until after the wire passes over the box, without diluting thestock suspension thereon. In this method of operation the liquid supplypipes and drain openings are closed and the various chambers in the boxI 5 are allowed to fill up with water drained from the stock, therebypreventing subsequent filtration through the forming wire as the wirepasses over the box. By extending the width of the box a suificientdistance for any particular speed of the machine, it is possible toprevent web formation from taking place until the stock suspension onthe forming wire is thoroughly leveled out and has attained the samespeed as the forming wire.

This method of operation, therefore, comprises closing both thedischarge valves and liquid feed pipes, allowing the chambers to fill upwith white water and thereby preventing filtration of water through theforming wire as it passes over the box.

Third Method In some instances it may be desirable to graduate theamount of formation that takes'place in the zone occupied by the box ii.For example each chamber will be allowed to fill up by the filtrationthat takes place through the forming wire and then the discharge valvesare regulated to govern the amount of filtration through the wire. Thisselective filtration affords a careful positive ontrol on the rapidityof the paper formation.

Fourth Method This method of operation may consist of a combination ofall three methods defined above by creating different conditions in eachof the various chambers. Some of the chambers, for example, the chambersimmediately adjacent the breast roll may be supplied with outside waterto flow into the stock suspension on the forming wire. Some of thechambers may have coloring matter or filling clays therein to fiow intothe stock suspension while other chambers may be regulated to preventfiltration through the wire or to effect a slow rate of filtration. Asthe primary bed of fibers is formed on the wire, the rate of filtrationmay be gradually increased to the full capacity of the forming wire.

This invention, therefore, comprises a device for hydraulicallycontrolling the drainage of liquids through the forming wire of a papermachine at the breast roll end thereof to prevent or slow up thedrainage of water from the stock on the wire or to add liquids orsuspensions through the wire to the stock thereon. The process of theinvention comprises the positive controlling of drainage of stocksuspensions through the forming wire of paper machines and the additionof liquids or suspensions to the wire side of the stock on the wire.

and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide rangewithout departing from the principles of this invention, and I,therefore,

do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.-

I claim as my invention:

'1. A forming box attachment for Fourdrinier type paper machinescomprising, in combination. a box having a bottom, ends and side walls,a plurality of partitions in said box defining watertight chambers, aperforated pipe communicating with the interior of each chamber, meansfor flowing liquids through said pipe, and drain openings in the bottomof each chamber.

2. A device for regulating web formation in Fourdrinier type papermachines adapted .to be mounted under the forming wire of said machinesadjacent the breast roll end thereof comprising a water-tight box"having an open top extending across the width of the wire, means foruniformly distributing liquids across the width of said box, means fordraining liquid from said box and means for guiding the forming wireover the top of said box.

3. A forming box attachment for Fourdrinier type paper machinescomprising a water-tight box having an open top for mounting under theforming wire of said machine, a plurality of individual chambers formedin said box, means for supplying liquid to the interior of saidchambers, means for draining liquid from said chambers, and

means for guiding the forming wire over the open tops of said chambers.r g

4. A forming box for paper machines comprising, in combination, awater-tight box divided into a plurality of chambers open at the topsthereof, horizontal bailie plates in each of said chambers.

perforated pipes extending across the width of said chambers in spacedrelation from the bot-- tom thereof, means for uniformly supplyingregulated amounts of liquids along the entire length of said pipes,there being a row of perforations in the bottom of each chamber, aperforated slide valve cooperating with said holes for controlling thedrainage therefrom, and means to guide the forming wire over the opentops of said chambers.

5. In a Fourdrinier paper machine having a forming wire, a breast roll,and a head box, a web forming attachment for mounting under the formingwire adjacent to the breast roll com- ,prising an open top box adaptedto receive liquid through said feed pipe uniformly along the perforatedpipe, openings in the bottom of said chambers, means for regulating thesize of said openings, and a pan in spaced relation beneath saidchambers for receiving liquid drained therefrom.-

7. The process of forming sheet material having improvedcharacteristics, which comprises flowing an aqueous suspension of stockonto the forming wire of a Fourdrinier' type paper machine, fiowingliquid upwardly through the forming wire to maintain the stock thereonin suspension and gradually regulating the drainage of water through thewire to prevent the formation 01' two-sided sheets.

.8. The process 01 forming fibrous web material having improvedcharacteristics, which comprises flowing stock onto the iorming wire 0!a paper machine, flowing liquid having desired ingredients incorporatedthereinupwardly through the wire to enter into the stock suspension andgradually regulating the drainage or water through the wire until thestock. has leveled on and attained the speed or the wire.

9. The process of forming clay filled paper having substantiallyidentical characteristics on both sides which comprises flowing a clay.vloaded aqueous suspension of fibrous stock onto a traveling formingwire, adding an aqueous clay suspension through the wire to the aqueousstock thereon before the stock has formed into a web and hydraulicallycontrolling the subsequent drainage through the wire.

10. The process of towing heavily loaded book papertree fromtwo-sidedness which comprises flowing loaded paper stock onto theforming wire of a paper machine, preventing drainage of liquid throughthe wire to maintain the stock thereon desired characteristics. insuspension untllit has leveled out and attained I the speed 0! thewire,-fiowing an aqueous suspension of loaded material up through thewire to mingle with the stock thereon before the stock has formed into aweb and hydraulically regulating subsequent drainage through the wire toform a web thereon.

11. The process of forming sheet material which comprises flowing anaqueous suspension of stock onto the forming wire of a papervmachine,seeping liquid up through the forming wire to maintain the stock thereonin tree suspension until the stock has leveled out and attained thespeed of the wire and thereafter draining liquid through the wire toform a web from the stock.

12. The process of forming fibrous sheet material which comprisesflowing an aqueous suspension of flbers onto the forming wire or a papermachine, maintaining a body of liquid against the bottom or said formingwire to prevent drainage therethrough until the suspension oi fibersthereon has leveled out and attained the speed or the wire, immediatelythereafter flowing a liquid suspension of solids through the wire toincorporate the solids into the suspension 01 fibers on the wire anddraining the liquid from the resulting suspension to form a fibrous webhaving the PHILIP J. REIMER.

